Listening to jazz and drinking wine have become some of man's top recreational activities, just after contemplating infinity and napping in the fridge. Let smooth saxophones entertain you with this Groupon.
$12 for VIP Admission to First Friday on Friday, February 1 ($25 Value)
On February 1, downtown Gainesville transforms into Bourbon Street during its Mardi Gras–themed First Friday celebration. Live jazz and New Orleans–inspired art fill the streets during the event. Participants can pick up their First Friday passport, which grants them specials at more than 35 bars and restaurants, at the Opera House between Lillian’s Music Store and Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. For every stamp you get in your passport, you earn raffle tickets for various prizes.
Pledge 5 Foundation and Thrift 5
As a nonprofit organization, the Pledge 5 Foundation conducts food, clothing, and public-service pledge drives for its numerous charity partners. In conjunction with each of these charity drives, it hosts community-centered promotional events—pub crawls, pet adoptions, and tailgating parties—that aim to inspire people to give back to their community. Pledge 5's staff, interns, student association, and service chamber all work to create positive change throughout the Gainesville community by stimulating local commerce and planting popsicle gardens. Pledge 5 is dedicated to increasing the number of volunteers in the community and encouraging the community's public service participation.
The Pledge 5 Foundation, in addition to working with charitable partners to inspire others to give back to their communities, also hosts a bargain shop known as Thrift 5, providing gently used and brand new goods to the denizens of Gainesville. The store stocks everything from brand name clothing to home decor and many other products. Patrons may also make tax-deductible donations to the store and volunteer at the shop. Thrift 5 also features local artist showcases.